Heads up! Something about to go down with Iran. US embassy in Baghdad evacuated.

US State Department spokesperson declined to comment on withdrawal but said safety of US officials, citizens & facilities in Iraq "remains our highest priority" – via @AFP

— Maya Gebeily (@GebeilyM) December 2, 2020

#IRAQ: Around 2 weeks ago, Western official told @AFP that despite dramatic drop in rocket attacks, US was still studying 3 withdrawal options.

The least destabilizing, that official said, was a partial drawdown in which ambassador + top diplomats stay.

— Maya Gebeily (@GebeilyM) December 2, 2020

#IRAQ: Two Western officials joked to me several weeks ago that if US did decide to leave, skies would get noisy over #Baghdad.

We've heard at least 1 helicopter overhead – usually more – every day for the last two weeks.

— Maya Gebeily (@GebeilyM) December 2, 2020

Israeli, U.S. armies step up coordination ahead of possible Iranian retaliation https://t.co/FKpcuM7Q5u

— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) December 2, 2020

🚨 Currently 🇮🇱 ✈ #IAF Israeli Air Force warplanes over #Lebanon 🇱🇧 and no presence of any #AAR Refueling aircraft or #SIGINT/#ELINT (#AEWC, #SEMA) G550 Nachshon Shavit/Eitam. Usually, during any operation in the conflicts' zones, their Transponders is turned OFF. pic.twitter.com/rkGSqO5yAV

— Waël (@AiWaelBot) December 2, 2020

AC